抄録
Desertification occurs in various parts of the world including humid region as well as arid and semi-arid regions. It is reported that more than one-fourth of land area on the earth is involved in this phenomenon. In some areas, land and vegetation degradation has caused such a serious problem as abandonment of farmlands. This phenomenon has been a universal issue since it was discussed at UNCOD (United Nations Conference on Desertification) in 1977. In Japan a research group of arid lands was organized in 1983 as one of the commissions of the Association of Japanese Geographers to proceed to research activities on regional problems of those areas and on desertification in the world. Then in 1985 the group was replaced by a working group. In the period of 1984 to 1986 the regular meeting for research was held 8 times, and the following studies were presented
OHMORI, H. (The Univ. of Tokyo): Natural Environment of Semi-Arid Regions in the Southern Part of Australia
TAKEUCHI, K. (The Univ. of Tokyo): Vegetation of Australia-Zonal Structure and its Anthropogenic Modification
NISHIZAWA, T. (Univ. of Tsukuba): Natural Environment of the Brazilian Northeast and Symptom of Desertification
KADOMURA, H. (Hokkaido Univ.): Savannization in Africa
TAMURA, T. (Tohoku Univ.): Grassfields-Forest Disappearance due to Human Activities in the Western Highlands of Cameroon
WASSON, R. J. (Australia Research Organization of Science and Technology): Geomorphology and Quaternary History of the Australian Desert Dunefields
HAGIWARA, H. (Graduate Student of Rissho Univ.): Problems of Sewerage System in Mexico
OJANY, F. F. (Univ. of Nairobi): Desertification in East Africa
KADOMURA, H. (Hokkaido Univ.): Drought in the Sahel-Sudan Zone (1)
TAKAMURA, H. (Rissho Univ.): Fire-burned fields and Symptom of Desertification in Zambia
MATSUMOTO, S. (.The Univ. of Tokyo): Some Problems Caused by the Development of Agriculture in Arid Zone of Middle and Near East
TAKAMURA, H. (Rissho Univ.): Salt Injury Caused by Groundwater Rising in the Costal Area of Persian Gulf
Moreover the symposium on “Geographical Aspects of ‘Desertification’” was held in September, 1986, in which the following subjects were set up, and 16 studies were presented:
1. Climatic variation and desertification
2. Water use and salinization
3. Agro-pastoral land use and degradation of land
4. Natural environment and change in land use
5. Control of desertification and suggestions for environmental management
Abstructs of paper submitted at the symposium were shown in the Geographical Review of Japan (Ser. A), Vol. 60, No. 2.
The present edition was planned to get those activities, especially at the symposium, into shape. If desertification is brought about not only by natural agency but also by human activities, then it must be examined from both physical and human points of view. Accordingly this edition aims at analyzing the present situation of desertification in the various fields of geography and studying out proper measures against this phenomenon.
